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Saturday, August 17, 2024

Tales of Ancient Egypt: Myths & Adventures from the Land of the Pyramids, by by Hugo D. Cook, Neon Squid, Narrated by Melinda Sewak

 


 

Audio 3h 22m     Available October 1, 2024

Absolutely fascinating and fun. I was immediately hooked by the narrator's seeming enthusiasm for her topic. You felt like she was into what she was narrating and that is a real plus. The author has a long-time fascination with Egypt, too, so a double win. The tone is very conversational and you almost feel like you're sitting around a study while the narrator simply shares story after story with you. As luck would have it, I recently reviewed another book focused on Egyptian mythology, so I was thoroughly enjoying having my memory tweaked. I enjoyed the music and occasional "sound effect" playing behind the narration, too. Not intrusive and added to the atmosphere. Kudos to narrator Melinda Sewak.

As for the contents, I gave up on taking notes early on simply to enjoy the stories. I did note down that it started from well, the beginning, sharing how Egyptians explained how everything began and the various gods role in that aspect. The stories included non-gods, too, hence the title of Tales of Ancient Egypt, not of Egyptian mythology. I won't even try to list them all but will note that topics like hieroglyphics and the Rosetta Stone are discussed, as well as the astonishing accuracy of the Great Pyramid as a directional tool. You'll even get to visit the inside of a tomb as well as imagine battles involving the likes of not just elephants but, seriously, ostriches. And....so much more. 

While designed around the idea of having young readers/listeners, my hunch, based on my own glee as I listened, is that adults may be equally drawn to this book. Social Studies teachers, this one would make a great add to your bookshelves, both at home and school. It'd also make a great gift. I had the audio version and could envision sharing one or two of these stories at a time toward the end of the class, so check this one out for purchase NOW. Thanks #MacmillanAudio - #MacmillanYoungReaders for giving me an early peek at this fascinating book.


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